<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<meta charset="UTF-8">

  <style>
   @font-face {
    font-family: VaishnavaStyle; 
    src: url(file:///android_asset/fonts/scagrg__.ttf); 
   }
   p,div,h1,h2,h3 {
    font-family: VaishnavaStyle, 'Comic Sans MS', cursive;
    
   }
   
   p {
   	font-size: 125%;
   }
   
   .ref {
   	font-size: 75%;
   }
   
   .shastra {
   	font
   }
   
  </style>

<title>Chapter 02</title>
</head>
<body bgcolor="#FFFF99">

<form action="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr" method="post">
<input type="hidden" name="cmd" value="_s-xclick">
<input type="hidden" name="encrypted" value="-----BEGIN PKCS7-----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-----END PKCS7-----
">
<input type="image" src="https://www.paypalobjects.com/en_US/i/btn/btn_donate_SM.gif" border="0" name="submit" alt="PayPal - The safer, easier way to pay online!">
<img alt="" border="0" src="https://www.paypalobjects.com/en_US/i/scr/pixel.gif" width="1" height="1" align="middle">
</form>

	<h2 align="center">Chapter Two</h2>
	<h3 align="center">mad-bhakto</h3>
	<h1 align="center">Become My Devotee</h1>
	
	<p align="justify">In the last chapter we explained the best and most secret
verse of Bhagavad-gétä. Using examples, we explained the
meaning of man-manä bhava, “Absorb your mind always in
thinking of Me.” Kåñëa gave this instruction to Arjuna on a
battlefield. </p>
	<p align="justify">We are also in the midst of a battle. We are at war with
the tendencies of the mind, which is restless by nature. There
was a war going on between the Päëòavas and Kauravas in
Kurukñetra. The instruction to absorb the mind in Kåñëa (manmanä
bhava) was difficult for Arjuna at that time; it is also just
as difficult for us now. </p>
	<p align="justify">The Päëòavas’ army consisted of seven large military
divisions called aksauhinis and the Kauravas’ army consisted of
eleven. Opposing us is also an army of eleven aksauhinis, but
we are alone. Kåñëa was the driver of Arjuna’s chariot, but our
driver is bad and deformed intelligence. Arjuna had a chariot
given to him by the demigod Agni that could not be burnt or
destroyed. But what kind of chariot do we have? We have only
our material body, which is subject to disease and death. </p>
	<p align="justify">Arjuna had the Gäëòéva bow for fighting, but what do we have?
We have no help; such is our position of weakness. Who was sitting 
on the flag of his chariot? Hanumän. Arjuna had all kinds of help,
but his mind became disturbed and he said, “My Lord, I am unable
to absorb my mind in thinking only of You.”</p>
	<p align="justify">The body is our chariot, the soul is its passenger and the
mind is its charioteer. What is the nature of the mind? Restless;
it gives us no help at all. By its direction we will fall down or
stray from the path. </p>
	<p align="justify">At first, with hands folded together, Arjuna said: </p>
	
	<div align="center">çiñyas te ’haà çädhi mäà tväà prapannam</div>
	<div align="right" class="ref">Bhagavad-gétä (2.7)</div>
	
	<p align="justify">In all ways I am now surrendered unto You. As You instruct me,
I will do. </p>
	<p align="justify">He heard all of Kåñëa’s instructions, and then said, “I am
unable to do this man-manä bhava. How will I absorb my
mind in this way? It is not possible. Many powerful warriors
have gathered here to fight against us: Bhéñma, Droëa, Karëa,
Duryodhana and Duùçäsana.” </p>
	<p align="justify">Opposing us also are six powerful warriors. What are they?
They are the urges of speech, the tongue, the stomach, the
genitals, the uncontrolled mind and anger. We cannot conquer
even one of these warriors. Even such exalted personalities
as Viçvämitra and Närada were affected by one of these foes,
the sexual urge. Besides these urges, we have to contend with
countless sinful desires and unwanted impurities in the heart. </p>
	<p align="justify">Therefore Kåñëa said, “Mad-bhakto – become My devotee.” </p>
	<p align="justify">Arjuna considered, and said, “Saying one will become a
devotee is easy, but to actually do it is very difficult.” </p>
	<p align="justify">To become a devotee, one thing is especially necessary: </p>
	
	<div align="center">anyäbhiläñitä-çünyaà</div>
	<div align="center">jïäna-karmädy-anävåtam</div>
	<div align="center">änukülyena kåñëänu</div>
	<div align="center">çélanaà bhaktir uttamä</div>
	<div align="right" class="ref">Bhakti-rasämåta-sindhu (1.1.11)</div>
	
	<p align="justify">Çréla Rüpa Gosvämé has instructed us, “Devotional service
should be devoid of all desires other than the aspiration to bring
happiness to Çré Kåñëa. It should not be covered by knowledge
and activity for material gain.” </p>
	<p align="justify">One should not have any type of material desire for attaining
bhakti, the service of Çré Kåñëa or of His pure devotee. There
cannot be a scent of any separate desire in the heart. What
to speak of the desire itself, there cannot be even a scent of
it. There are to be no tendencies of jïäna, the cultivation of
knowledge directed towards impersonal liberation, or karma –
fruitive activity. </p>
	<p align="justify">There is an apparent contradiction here. We are told that
we must not have any tendency towards material activity or
accumulating knowledge. The difficulty is that no one can live
without activity. We must eat and wear clothing to protect
ourselves from the cold. We are performing some material
activity even when we are asleep. Breathing, changing position
and dreaming are all material activities. We cannot live for
even one moment without performing some sort of activity,
and anyone who says that he can is a pretender. </p>
	<p align="justify">The question is how will we ensure that activity is not material
and does not cover our bhakti? The solution is to perform our
activity for the pleasure of Bhagavän; then it will not cover
bhakti. For example, when we are eating, we shouldn’t forget
the Lord. Rather, we should first cook and offer the food for
His pleasure, and then eat the remnants with honor in order to
maintain our bodies for His service. </p>
	<p align="justify">In our present condition we are also unable to live without
knowledge. Knowledge is necessary, because without it we will
not even know where to place our feet while walking and we
will fall down. </p>
	<p align="justify">Although knowledge and material activity will remain, they
must be kept in a position of servitude to bhakti, otherwise our
bhakti will become covered. We can do this by engaging our
knowledge and activity in Kåñëa’s service. For instance, we can
go to the market and bring good quality fruits and vegetables for
the service of the Deity. He will accept the offerings and give
mercy to everyone. Acting in this way will increase our bhakti
instead of covering it. On the other hand, if we act for our own
enjoyment, everything is spoiled, even if we offer the results of
our activity to Kåñëa. This action will cover our bhakti, so we
must be aware of this. </p>
	<p align="justify">For example, if we bring first-class ingredients such as the
best milk, pure cow’s ghee, and coconut, and we make a very
beautiful sweet, with silver topping. It is somewhat proper to
make this preparation thinking, “I have made this. I collected
the necessary funds, and brought the ingredients. I will offer it
to Bhagavän and then enjoy it.” This way of expressing devotion
is not completely pure. Food or anything else should not be
offered only after preparing it; rather, it should be offered to
Bhagavän from the very beginning. </p>

	<div align="center">yajïärthät karmaëo ’nyatra</div>
	<div align="right" class="ref">Bhagavad-gétä (3.9)</div>

	<p align="justify">“Your action should be a sacrifice for Bhagavän.” This is the
instruction of Bhagavad-gétä (9.27) – whatever you eat or drink
should be for sacrifice. </p>

	<div align="center">yat karoñi yad açnäsi</div>
	<div align="center">yaj juhoñi dadäsi yat</div>
	<div align="center">yat tapasyasi kaunteya</div>
	<div align="center">tat kuruñva mad-arpaëam</div>
	

	<p align="justify">“Whatever you eat, if you prepare food, if you perform a
sacrifice, if you are keeping a garden – all should be an offering
to the Deity.” In general the spiritually inclined people of
this world are offering only the results of their activities to
Bhagavän. But Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu and the teachers in
our Gauòéya line have taught, “Don’t do things in this way! Be
careful! You’ll be trapped!” Rather we should first offer our very
selves to the Deity: “I am Yours.” Then whatever we eat or do
will automatically be for Bhagavän. </p>

	<div align="center">çravaëaà kértanaà viñëoù</div>
	<div align="center">smaraëaà päda-sevanam</div>
	<div align="center">arcanaà vandanaà däsyaà</div>
	<div align="center">sakhyam ätma-nivedanam</div>

	<div align="center">iti puàsärpitä viñëau</div>
	<div align="center">bhaktiç cen nava-lakçaëä</div>
	<div align="center">kriyeta bhagavaty addhä</div>
	<div align="center">tan manye ’dhétam uttamam</div>
	<div align="right" class="ref">Çrémad-Bhägavatam (7.5.23–4)</div>

	<p align="justify">“Hearing (çravaëam) and chanting (kértanam) about Kåñëa,
remembering
Him (viñëu-smaraëam), serving His feet (pädasevanam),
worshipping Him (arcanam), praying to Him
(vandanam), becoming His servant (däsyam), becoming His
dear friend (sakhyam) and fully surrendering to Him (ätmanivedanam):
this is ninefold bhakti. Performing these nine types
of devotion is the topmost knowledge.” </p>
	<p align="justify">If devotional activities are performed, and the results are
offered to Bhagavän afterwards, then it is devotion mixed with
personal desire. It is not pure bhakti. The people of this world
generally don’t know this, but pure devotees understand the
shortcomings in this mentality. We should first offer our very
selves, and not simply the results of our activities.</p>
	<p align="justify">It is like a small boy eating, while sitting in the lap of his
father. When the boy sees some food, he puts it into his mouth,
and some into the mouth of his father, and the father is pleased.
Why? The boy is fully dependent on him. Even if he punishes
the boy, the boy would never leave him. In order to develop a
relationship like this with Bhagavän, we first offer everything
to our guru, because in our present condition he is to be seen
as Bhagavän. </p>
	<p align="justify">When we develop a direct relationship with Bhagavän, then
there will be no necessity of formal offerings. The gopés are
eating and decorating themselves, but they do not make any
formal offerings to Kåñëa. They are using many good-quality
things in the course of dressing and decorating themselves and
applying their ornaments –
but who is it all for? Whatever they
do is for the pleasure of Kåñëa. As soon as something comes to
them, it is automatically for Kåñëa. In this way we should do
everything exclusively for the pleasure of Kåñëa. </p>
	<p align="justify">Such singular, undivided devotion (bhakti) is difficult to
attain, and it requires that we have some spiritual merit from
our previous lives. And if in this birth, by the mercy of Bhagavän
and his devotees, we have been graced with the company of
highly advanced devotees, then pure bhakti can come. </p>

	<h3 align="center">The Story Of Bilvamaìgala Öhäkura</h3>

	<p align="justify">The story of Bilvamaìgala Öhäkura nicely illustrates this
point. Although he had accumulated spiritual merit from his
previous lives, some specific desires for material enjoyment still
remained in his heart. He kept company with the prostitute
Cintämaëi, and underwent all sorts of difficulties and dangers
to visit her. One stormy night in order to cross the flooded river
to get to her palace on the other side, he used a floating corpse,
thinking it was a log, While trying to climb up to her window,
he grabbed a deadly snake, taking it as a vine. However, she
had become exclusively devoted to Lord Kåñëa and she rejected
and rebuked him. After that he resolved to renounce worldly
pleasures and pursue a spiritual path. </p>
	<p align="justify">Having a great desire to meet Kåñëa, he left his home and
began heading towards Våndävana. Perhaps five days later he
stopped at a well to get some water. There, he saw a young girl
who gave him some water to drink. But he forgot about drinking
the water and began gazing at her. He followed her to her home,
and there a brähmaëa came to the door thinking, “Why has this
great personality come?” </p>
	<p align="justify">Bilvamaìgala asked, “Who is the girl that lives here?” </p>
	<p align="justify">The brähmaëa replied, “She is my wife.” </p>
	<p align="justify">Bilvamaìgala said, “Call her. I want to speak with her a
little.” </p>
	<p align="justify">So he called her, and when she came, Bilvamaìgala asked
her, “Please give me both of your hairpins.” </p>
	<p align="justify">The brähmaëa and his wife thought, “He is a travelling
mendicant. Perhaps he has a thorn or splinter in his foot that
he wants to remove.” </p>
	<p align="justify">They gave him the hairpins. He did have a thorn he wanted
to remove, but that thorn was in his heart, and he was unable
to reach it. He took the hairpins and plucked out his eyes. </p>
	<p align="justify">There is a saying in Hindi that means, “If there is no
bamboo, there will be no flute.” These eyes can be the root
cause of our attachment to this world: the form of a woman
attracts a man, the form of a man attracts a woman, and
for each other they are the personification of mäyä, illusion.
Therefore Srémad-Bhägavatam and other scriptures have
warned us to be very careful about this. </p>
	<p align="justify">Bilvamaìgala, now blind, continued on his journey
to Våndävana. He was in such a mood of deep separation
from Kåñëa that all of his senses were centred on Bhagavän.
On the way, there were many obstacles such as mud-holes
and streams, but he was undeterred in his determination.
He meditated deeply on Kåñëa as he made his way towards
Våndävana. Then one day a young boy came to him and said
in a sweet voice, “Bäbä, where are you going?” </p>
	<p align="justify">Being pleased, Bilvamaìgala replied, “My son, I am going to
Våndävana. Where are You going?” </p>
	<p align="justify">“I am also going to Våndävana – I make My living there.” </p>
	<p align="justify">“Våndävana? Then come with me, and hold my walking
stick.” </p>
	<p align="justify">They went off together, and wandering and wandering, they
arrived in Våndävana, the eternal home of the Lord. </p>
	<p align="justify">On the way, what happened? Inside his heart, Bilvamaìgala
experienced so many realisations about Kåñëa that were just
like nectar. During his journey, he composed and sang beautiful
poetry in praise of the Lord. Just to hear these enchanting songs
of love, Kåñëa Himself came as that young boy, and personally
led His devotee by the hand to Våndävana. </p>

	<h3 align="center">Kåñëa Personally Cares For His Devotees</h3>]
	<p align="justify">The following story illustrates how Kåñëa cares for those who
have really become His devotees. There was a brähmaëa devotee
of Kåñëa who had read many scriptures and many commentaries
on Bhagavad-gétä and Çrémad-Bhägavatam. He read the Gétä
every day, and while reading, many spiritual sentiments would
arise within him. He wrote down his realisations and desired
to publish them so that ordinary people would be able to easily
understand them. In this way he was engaged in bhajana. From
the beginning he never took any employment. He would only
beg for one hour each day, and the rest of the time he would
study the scriptures and hear and chant Kåñëa’s holy names,
glories and pastimes. </p>
	<p align="justify">The brähmaëa and his wife were very content together,
living on whatever Bhagavän gave them. They had no material
desires at all. They only read the Gétä and contemplated
spiritual topics. In the early afternoon, when most people took
their main meal of the day, he went begging. His wife prepared
whatever he collected, and the couple subsisted solely on that. </p>
	<p align="justify">His wife had only one piece of clothing. One day, having no
cloth of his own, the brähmaëa took his wife’s cloth and tore
enough from it to cover himself, so that he could go out and beg.
Before going out, he had been writing down the meaning of Gétä
verses one after the other. Then he came upon this verse: </p>

	<div align="center">ananyäç cintayanto mäà</div>
	<div align="center">ye janäù paryupäsate</div>
	<div align="center">teñäà nityäbhiyuktänäà</div>
	<div align="center">yoga-kñemaà vahämy aham</div>
	<div align="right" class="ref">Bhagavad-gétä (9.22)</div>
	
	<p align="justify">He began to analyse this verse: “Ananyäç cintayanto mäm:
those whose minds are fully self-controlled, and have no
other object of meditation besides Kåñëa. Ye janäù paryupäsate:
one who worships Kåñëa in all ways, especially by the medium of
hearing and chanting becomes situated very near to Him. Teñäà
nityäbhiyuktänäm: for those who are fixed in performing bhajana
like this, then its result also is for the happiness of Kåñëa, not for
themselves. Even if a person of bad conduct engages in this type of
exclusive bhajana, then Kåñëa will accept him. And if that exclusive
sentiment is not there, then Kåñëa will never reveal Himself. </p>
	<p align="justify">This verse is related to the preliminary practice of devotion
(sädhana), not the stage of perfection. To those who have
exclusively taken shelter of Kåñëa, He is their protector and
maintainer. Besides Him, there is no other.” </p>
	<p align="justify">This brähmaëa’s nature was very humble and surrendered.
While studying this verse, many nice sentiments arose within
his heart. Then he came to the last line of the verse. “Yogakñemaà
vahämy aham: Kåñëa is saying that for His devotees
who engage in bhajana in this way, He will supply all of their
requirements such as food and water, and even collect them
and carry them Himself.” </p>
	<p align="justify">The brähmaëa stopped and thought, “How can this be? This
is not right. I am now an old man, over seventy years old. Up
until today Bhagavän has never directly looked after us like
this. We have been engaged in exclusive bhajana, and today
there is not a single mouse in our home. Why? Because there
is no food in the house! We don’t even have any earthen pots
to catch the rainwater. There is nothing in our home, not even
any foodstuffs for today’s meal. I will go out to beg and whatever
I acquire, we will take only that. Isn’t Bhagavän seeing this?
Is He not inside all souls witnessing everything? Certainly He
hasn’t taken care of us as He is saying in this verse. Maybe if we
require something, He would inspire another person to come
and help us, but He would never carry a burden for us on His
own head. I cannot accept this.” </p>
	<p align="justify">He took a red pen and scratched this verse out thinking, “It
is not possible for Kåñëa to have spoken this verse. Someone
else must have inserted it.” </p>
	<p align="justify">Then he went begging thinking, “Kåñëa will carry what we
require on His own body? Perhaps He would inspire a king or
some wealthy man to come and help us, but He wouldn’t carry
anything on His own head. The all-knowing and all-powerful
Lord? I have heard that he made the poor brähmaëa Sudämä
into a king, but He didn’t physically carry any burden for him.
I have never heard this.” </p>
	<p align="justify">He put it out of his mind and went on begging. Wandering
and wandering, three o’clock passed and he still hadn’t collected
a single thing. At one house the owner said to him, “Bäbä, I am
sorry, but our house is impure. For three days we cannot give
anything because one of our family members has just died.” </p>
	<p align="justify">It was the same wherever he went, so after some time he
started for home empty-handed. Meanwhile, at his home, what
was happening? A beautiful young boy with a dark complexion
and wearing yellow cloth arrived at the gate carrying a long
stick on his shoulders, with a bag of goods on each end. In one
bag was rice, dahl, ghee and spices, and in the other, sugar,
vegetables and different things. He did not appear strong
enough to carry it all. He was young, perhaps only fourteen
years old, and His limbs were very delicate. He was perspiring,
and arriving at the gate, He called out, “Oh Mother! Oh wife of
my guru, please open the door!” </p>
	<p align="justify">The brähmaëa’s wife replied, “What? My husband has no
disciples.” </p>
	<p align="justify">The boy replied, “Yes, yes, it is possible. I am a disciple of
your husband.” </p>
	<p align="justify">She thought, “What is this? Where has He come from?”
She was unable to open the door because she didn’t even
have enough clothing to properly cover herself. But Kåñëa
understood everything, so He handed His own shawl through
the door for her to wear. He said, “Mother, Gurujé has sent Me.
We have obtained all of these things today. He grabbed Me and
sent Me here, saying that he will be coming soon. I asked him to
please wait a minute so I could get a drink of water, but he said,
‘No, You can drink water later. Go immediately to my home.’
He could see that I am such a young boy, still he loaded all of
this on Me and sent Me here.” </p>
	<p align="justify">Hearing this, the brähmaëa’s wife began to weep, and
thought, “Such a tender young boy, and He is perspiring as
well! Doesn’t this brähmaëa have any mercy? He himself will
come empty-handed, after loading everything on this poor boy?
He has no mercy.” </p>
	<p align="justify">Showing her His back, the boy said, “Mother, he has also
scratched Me with his nails.” </p>
	<p align="justify">“Oh! It looks like it will bleed!” She took Him on her lap and
said, “My son, when he comes, I will give him a good talking
to! He poses as a big, self-controlled devotee, but he cannot
even show mercy to a child! My dear son, please come inside.”
She brought Him inside and said, “Sit here and I will prepare
something. You will not leave here without being fed.” </p>
	<p align="justify">She went to the kitchen and began to prepare the rice, dahl
and vegetables that He had brought. Then there was a knock at
the door; the brähmaëa had arrived. “Open the door!” he said. </p>
	<p align="justify">Very annoyed, the brähmaëa’s wife went to the door and
said, “Have you brought anything? You have come emptyhanded?
You loaded everything on that poor boy and then
scratched Him with your nails? Don’t you have even a little
mercy?” </p>
	<p align="justify">The brähmaëa replied, “What are you talking about?” </p>
	<p align="justify">“You know very well – that boy you sent here loaded up with </p>
	<p align="justify">“Who? I don’t know anything about this!” </p>
	<p align="justify">“You loaded it all on that poor child and you have brought
nothing yourself!” </p>
	<p align="justify">“Where is he then?” </p>
	<p align="justify">“Come inside and see!” </p>
	<p align="justify">They went inside the house, but the boy was nowhere to be
seen. They searched the entire house, and all they found was a
thread of yellow cloth where He had been sitting. After searching
and not finding Him, the brähmaëa took his Gétä in his hands
and opened it. Discovering that the red ink with which he crossed
out the verse was no longer there, he began weeping bitterly, and
said, “Today, for us, see how Bhagavän has personally carried our
burden! This is our evidence. My doubt is now dispelled.” </p>
	<p align="justify">This is bhakti, and an example of the practice (sädhana)
that produces bhakti. Arjuna said, “My Lord, to do this, here
on this battlefield, will be very difficult. I could not do manmanä
bhava, and I also cannot do mad-bhakto. Please tell me a
method that is simple, straight and easy.”</p>
	<p align="justify">Next the Lord will explain “mad-yäjé – worship Me.” </p>
	
</body>
</html>